Wrench for removing threaded pipe nipples



Oct. 6, 1964 G. BRASE 3,151,511

WRENCH FOR REMOVING THREADED PIPE NIPPLES Filed June 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet- 1 E I E- 3 INVENTOR. GEORGE BRA s5 Z! ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 G. BRASE 3,151,511

WRENCH FOR REMOVING THREADED PIPE NIPPLES Filed June 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IEIE- E5- INVENTOR. GEORGE BRASE WM &

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 151 511 WRENCH FDR RlZPviBVillG TI-EEEADED EZPE NIPPLES George Brass, San Fransisco, (Salli. (334 Cardinel (Joint, Mill Valley, Calif.) Filed June 1, 1962, Ser. No. 39,385 4 iaiins. ((11. 81-53) This invention relates to plumbers tools for handling pipe nipples and more particularly it relates to a unique wrench for removing and inserting large sized pipe nippics.

in my earlier Patent No. 2,906,152, issued September 29, 1959, 1 described a wrench for removing headless pipe nipples, and while the tool described therein pro- 'ides remarkable results, it does not solve all of the problems related to the handling of pipe nipples of unusually large size as are frequently used in large diameter conduits. Often such large pipe nipples after having been installed over a relatively long period of time, become frozen in position by paint or corrosion. Under such circumstances the torque required to loosen and remove the nipple is extremely high and yet there must be some means for gripping the pi e nipple so that the necessary torque can be applied without damag ng its threads.

Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved pipe nipple wrench that is particularly adapted for large sized pipe nipples. In my earlier patent i described a wrench having a pipe nipple gripping means comprised of two components, namely a barrel member and a bolt member. In handling large sized pipe nipples I discovered that while some principles of the barrel and bolt member combination could be retained, the extra size required of these members for the larger pipe nipples created new problems. One problem was that of provid ng a means for temporarily locking the members together so that they could be manipulated as a unit during the initial stages of tightening as the nipple is being installed. Another object is to provide an improved wrench that solves this problem.

Another problem in removing pipe nipples related to the large sized pipe or conduit is that of supporting the wrench and the nipple during an installation or removal operation. This is an essential requirement because a large load on the wrench can cause a binding of the threads and grossly increase the torque required to operate it.

Thus, another object of this invention is to provide an improved wrench for pipe nipples which can be supported by external means when attached to the nipple and which thus will not bind on a pipe nipple attached to a horizontally extending pipe section. With my invention an extremely large torque can be applied to screw and unscrew a large type nipple oriented in any position without dmger of damaging the nipple structure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pipe nipple wrench that is readily adaptable to be driven by a powered impact wrench of the pneumatic or electrical type as well as any well known manual torque bar.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable pipe nipple wrench which accomplishes the aforementioned objects and is designed for ease and economy of the manufacture.

Other objects, advantages, and features of my invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof presented in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective showing the barrel and bolt members of a pipe nipple wrench embodying the principles of the invention;

Patented Get. 6, 1964 FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged view in elevation and in section of an assembled pipe nipple Wrench according to the invention, as it appears when connected to a nipple to be removed;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation and in section of the shell portion of the wrench shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of a somewhat modified form of the invention as it appears when connected to a pipe nipple and supported from above;

FIG. 5 is a view in end elevation and in section taken along lirie 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of an impact wrench adapter that is shown attached to the wrench in FIG. 4.

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a pipe nipple wrench l9 embodying the principles of the invention and comprising a tubular barrel member 11 and a cooperating bolt member 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the wrench it) is adapted to be threaded to the exposed end of a pipe nipple 13 having standard tapered pipe threads 14. By moving the bolt portion 12 axially within the tubular barrel portion 11 and against the end of the nipple 13, the barrel 11, the bolt 12 and the nipple 13 become locked together so that a torque can be applied to the bolt 12 to remove the nipple 13 from the pipe structure 15 to which it is attached.

The barrel member 11 as shown in detail in FIG. 3 is somewhat elongated and has a bore 16. Extending inwardly one end of the barrel 11 are a first series of internal right hand pipe threads 17. These threads are tapered so that when the barrel 11 is screwed onto the nipple 13, the end of the nipple will normally be positioned substantially at the inner end of the series of threads 17. At the other end of the barrel are a second series of internal left hand threads 13 that are of the straight or SAE. type, and separating the two sets of threads 17 and 13 is an inner annular unthreaded surface 19 of the barrel 11 that is slightly recessed. Near the upper end of the barrel member 11 are a series of circumferentially spaced apart ports or openings 2% of equal diameter that are adapted to provide a means for locking the barrel and the bolt members together during their installation on or removal from a nipple. At its lower ends, the barrel member 11 is provided with a series of spaced apart axially extending slots 21 adapted to clean out the threads 14 of a nipple 13 when the barrel is threaded thereto.

The bolt member 12 also has a gen rally tubular shape with a substantially uniform bore 22 and a lower end portion 23 that is relieved of threads and has a diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the first series of threads 17 of the barrel member 11. The lower edge of the bolt member preferably has a frusto-conical shape forming a tapered rim portion 24 that is capable of partially entering the bore 25' of the nipple i3 and to wedgingly lock against the inner end of such nipple as shown in FIG. 2. At the upper end of the bolt member 12 is another unthreaded cylindrical portion as of larger diameter and also having a series of circumferentially spaced apart ports or openings 27 of equal diameter. Between the end portions 23 and 25 is an externally threaded portion 23 comprising a series of left hand threads 29 adapted to correspond with and engage the upper second series of threads id of the barrel ii.

In the threads portion 28 of the bolt 12 are a pair of circumferentially extending slots 39 preferably with curved end edges 31 and parallel sides 32 that are spaced apart so that the width of the slots is somewhat greater than the diameter of the openings Zti in the barrel memher 11. The midpoint of each slot 27 is located away from that of the opposite slot on the circular Wall or" the bolt member 12. Axially, the slots 27 are positioned a predetermined distance from the lower end 24- of the bolt 12 so that when it is threaded into the barrel member 11 with its lower end 24 substantially even with the innermost thread of the first series of threads 17 of the bmel slots 27 and the openings 29 of the barrel memrner 11 will be substantially in axial alignment.

Freely attached to the side of the barrel member 11 is a toggle member 35 which consists of a cylindrical bar 36 having at one end a pivotal link 37. The link 37 is attached by means of a pin 33 so that it can pivot at a right angle to the bar 36 after being inserted through a pair of the openings in the barrel 11 and the slots 27 in the bolt member. The toggle member 35 is retained on the barrel by a chain 39 attached at its end to a lug 4-9 welded to' the barrel member 11.

In operation, when removing pipe nipples; of a relatively. large size which have been lodged firmly in a pipe fitting or other structure due to corrosion, the barrel member 11 is first threaded to the end of the pipe nipple 13 while the bolt 12 is retracted somewhat in the upper second series of threads 18 of the barrel. Since the first series of internal threads 17 at the lower end of the barrel are tapered, it can be advanced on the nipple only to a point where the nipple is almost fully within the threaded portion 17 of the barrel. At this point the barrel 11 is snugly engaged to the nipple 13. The bolt member 12 a is now moved into position against the end of the nipple 13 by rotating it in the opposite direction with its left handed threads 29 engaging the threads 18 of the barrel 11. The tapered lower end 24 of the bolt 12 moves axially downward and engages the end of the nipple 13, and as the bolt is tightened, it causes the threads 1'7 of the barrel 11 to press axially into a firm locking engagementagainst the threads 14 of the nipple. A suitable torque bar can .now be inserted through a pair of openings 27 in the upper end 26 of the bolt to rotate the bolt, barrel and nipple as if it were a single connected unit in a counterclockwise direction thus loosening the nipple from the structure, As this force is applied by the torque bar in the counterclockwise direction the toggle member 35 may be inserted through a pair of openings 29 and the slots 30 in the bolt to provide a locking connection be Ween the barrel and the bolt and thereby prevent the bolt from exerting an excess of tightening pressure against the end of the nipple. In this Way the nipple can be removed Without damage either to it or the components of the wrench,

Although the removal of a pipe nipple may be accomplished without the use of the toggle member 35, this member in cooperation with the slots 36 and the openings 20 is an essential element of my invention in carrying out the installation of a nipple with the wrench 10. When a nipple is ready for installation, it may first be manually inserted and threaded into its opening by a p clockwise rotation until at least one or two threads have been taken up; The barrel member 11 is then attached to the'nipple by'threading it thereto, also in a clockwise direction. When the barrel member is properly in place with substantially all of its threads 17 engaged with the nipple, the bolt member 12 is threaded counterclockwise into the barrel11 until its lower rim 24 presses against .the end of the nipple 13. When the bolt is firmly positioned against the nipple within the barrel, the toggle member is inserted through a pair of openings 20 in the barrel and through the'slots Si) in the'bolt which have become automatically axially aligned with the openings 20. The end link 37 of toggle member pivots relative'to the bar 36 and holds it in the inserted position. Torque can now be applied by a suitable torque bar extendedthrough the openings 27 to give the bolt a clockwise rotation to thus screw'the nipple into a pipe fitting. .Without the toggle member 35 the clockwise. rotation could cause the bolt to unscrew from the barrel member and would release the grip of the bolt and barrel on the nipple. Theme of the toggle member 35 which is always available for insertion in the cooperating openings 4 A 29 and slots 36 overcomes this problem. The spacing of the openings and the size of the slots 30 is such that the toggle member can always be inserted through the bolt and barrel members no matter what their relative radial positions are;

Instead of a long, cumbersome torque bar, it may be desirable in using the wrench 10 to employ a suitable pneumatic or electrical impact wrench for turning the bolt. 'To solve the problem of applying such a powered wrench to the wrench 10, I provide a short cylindrical drive bar member 42 that may be retained at each end in a pair of openings 27 by cotter pins 43 (FIG. 4). Adapted to fit over the torque bar 42 as shown in FIG. 6 is a removable impact wrench adapter 44. The adapter is preferably made of a solid hard metal material and has a generally dome-like body 45 with a circular cross section through which 'is an open transverse,diametrical slot 46 having an inner radius equal to that of the torque bar 42'.

Extending aidally from the body 45 is an integral flat-' sided stud portion 47 that is adapted to fit within the socket of a rotary powered impact wrench. In use, the normal'pressure exerted by an operator of the impact wrench keeps the adapter in place and in driving contact with the bar member 42.

Often pipe sections are horizontally disposed and poor ly supported, and it is necessary to externally support 7 the wrench as the installation or removal ofthe large sized pipe nipple takes place. As shown in FIGS. 4 and .5, my invention provides a means for conveniently supcan be loosened or tightened to adjust the band 49 to any 7 desired axial or radial position on the barrel.

Not only is my invention particularly adaptable to the installation and removal of pipe nipples but its principles can also be applied to remove large size studs by changing the tapered pipe threads 17 of the barrel 11 to the proper sized straight threads to fit the studs. 7

To those skilled in the art to which this invention'relates, many changes in construction and widely diifering embodiments and applications of the invention will sug-.

gest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

l. A wrench for engaging and turning a pipe nipple comprising: a barrel'member having a bore, a first series of internal right hand threads at one end of said bore adaptedfor threaded engagement on an open ended pipe nipple and a second series of internal left hand threads at the opposite end of said bore; a bolt member having a series of external left hand'tlneads for engagement with the said second series of threads of said barrel member, the lower end of said bolt near its threads being adapted to engage the end of a pipe nipplewithinthe bore of said barrel member; a pair of circumferentially extending and spaced apart slots in the threaded portion of said bolt member; a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings located at a predetermined fixed distance'from theupper end of said barrel member, said slots and'said openings being so located on said barrel and ,bolt mem bers'that said slots and atleast two of said openings are substantlally in register and form a diametrical passage through said barrel and bolt members when the lower end of said bolt is engaged with the end ofa pipe nipple within said barrel; a toggle member attached to said-barrel member adapted to extend through said passage for rotatably connecting saidbarrel member and said bolt; a plurality of circumferentially spacedapart openings at .yillb upper'end of said bolt memberfa removable transcomprising: a tubular barrel member having a fir" 5 verse pin member retained in two of said openings; and an impact wrench adapter member comprising a dome shaped body having an open slot adapted to receive said pin member and a fiat-sided driving stud portion extending axially from said body.

2. A wrench for removing and installing pipe nally threaded portion of right hand threads at one end adapte for engaging an open ended pipe nipple, and a second internally threaded portion of left hand threads at the opposite end; a bolt member having a threaded portion at one end with a series of external left hand threads adapted to correspond with the threads or said second threaded portion on the barrel member, the lower end of said bolt near said threads having a frusto-conical edge adapted to engage the end of a pipe nipple within said barrel member; a pair of circurnferentially spaced apart slots the threaded portion of said bolt member; a series of circumferentially spaced apart openings having a diameter slightly less than the width of said slots and located at a predetermined fixed distmce from the upper end of said barrel member, said slots being substantially in register with two of said openings when the lower end of said bolt is axially positioned adjacent the inner end or said first internally threaded portion of said barrel, thereby providing a passage for receiving a toggle member to rotatably connect said barrel and bolt members; means on the upper end of said bolt member for applying a torque to said wrench; said bolt member having an unthreaded tubular portion on the opposite end from threaded portion, and a plurality of chcnm rentially spaced apart openings in said nnthreaded bolt portion adapted to receive a torque producing means for turning said wrench; and an adjustable band means extending around the outside of said barrel member having a loop portion adapted to be attached to a supporting cable.

3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said torque producing means comprises a transverse cylindrical pin member retained in two or" said openings in said bolt member; and an adapter for a motorized impact torque wrench comprising a body portion having a slot with an inner curved surface adapted to conform with and fit partially around said pin member, and an integral flat-sided stud portion extending axially said body portion.

4. A wrench for removing and installing pipe nipples comprising: a tubular barrel member having a first internally threaded portion of right hand threads at one end adapted for engaging an open ended pipe nipple, and a second internally threaded portion of left hand threads at the opposite end; a bolt member having a threaded portion at one end with a series of external left hand threads adapted to correspond with the threads of said second threaded portion on the barrel member, the 10 er end said bolt near said threads having a frusto-conioal edge adapted to engage the end of a pipe nipple within said barrel member; a pair of circumferentially spaced part slots in the threaded portion of said bolt n1 rnber; a series of circnmferentially spaced apart openings having a diameter slightly less than the Width of said slots and located at a predetermined fixed distance from th upp I end of said barrel member, said slots being substanially in register with two or" said openings when the lower end of said bolt is axially positioned adjacent the inner end of said first internally threaded portion of said e1, ther by providing a passage for receiving a toggle member to rotatably connect said barrel and bolt members; means on the upper end of said bolt member for applying a torque to said Wrench; said bolt member having an unthreaded tubular portion on the opposite end from its threaded portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart relatively narrow open ended slots extending axially inwardly from the end of said first threa ed portion of said barrel member; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings in said nnthreaded bolt portion adapted to receive a torque producing means for turning said wrench.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A WRENCH FOR ENGAGING AND TURNING A PIPE NIPPLE COMPRISING: A BARREL MEMBER HAVING A BORE, A FIRST SERIES OF INTERNAL RIGHT HAND THREADS AT ONE END OF SAID BORE ADAPTED FOR THREADED ENGAGEMENT ON AN OPEN ENDED PIPE NIPPLE AND A SECOND SERIES OF INTERNAL LEFT HAND THREADS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BORE; A BOLT MEMBER HAVING A SERIES OF EXTERNAL LEFT HAND THREADS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAID SECOND SERIES OF THREADS OF SAID BARREL MEMBER, THE LOWER END OF SAID BOLT NEAR ITS THREADS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE END OF A PIPE NIPPLE WITHIN THE BORE OF SAID BARREL MEMBER; A PAIR OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING AND SPACED APART SLOTS IN THE THREADED PORTION OF SAID BOLT MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED APART OPENINGS LOCATED AT A PREDETERMINED FIXED DISTANCE FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID BARREL MEMBER, SAID SLOTS AND SAID OPENINGS BEING SO LOCATED ON SAID BARREL AND BOLT MEMBERS THAT SAID SLOTS AND AT LEAST TWO OF SAID OPENINGS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IN REGISTER AND FORM A DIAMETRICAL PASSAGE THROUGH SAID BARREL AND BOLT MEMBERS WHEN THE LOWER END OF SAID BOLT IS ENGAGED WITH THE END OF A PIPE NIPPLE WITHIN SAID BARREL; A TOGGLE MEMBER ATTACHED TO SAID BARREL MEMBER ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH SAID PASSAGE FOR ROTATABLY CONNECTING SAID BARREL MEMBER AND SAID BOLT; A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED APART OPENINGS AT THE UPPER END OF SAID BOLT MEMBER; A REMOVABLE TRANSVERSE PIN MEMBER RETAINED IN TWO OF SAID OPENINGS; AND AN IMPACT WRENCH ADAPTER MEMBER COMPRISING A DOME SHAPED BODY HAVING AN OPEN SLOT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID PIN MEMBER AND A FLAT-SIDED DRIVING STUD PORTION EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM SAID BODY. 